Pushing myself on problems

Despite initial feelings of tiredness I had a cracking bouldering session, making solid progress on a couple of projects and, on my third attempt, smashing a 6c+ — the hardest thing I've officially managed to send. And I wouldn't have tried it — I was convinced it was too hard for me — had I not made a recent resolution to force myself to confront my fears and to commit to doing things that I think are beyond me...

Whitacre's Deep Field

Another piece from the same prom and a same composer as Monday: Eric Whitacre's Deep Field inspired by the Hubble Deep Field images of distant galaxies.

It's an intriguing composition with an opening that sounds a bit like early John Adams played at the wrong speed, a very cinematic crescendo in the middle, and a charming bit of theatre at close with the BBC Singers and BBC SO Chorus coming standing in the aisles of the Albert Hall for the Holstian vocalise that ends the piece.